Saints & Witches

In Episode 75 (!), we finally discuss the folklore of the city of New Orleans. We explore the legend of the Casket Girls and the Old Ursuline Convent (were they vampires / were they vampire smugglers / would you rather fight one normal-sized vampire or 500 mini vampires). Then, we discuss the origins and practices of Voodoo and, of course, Marie Laveau.  As we mention in the intro, Saints & Wi...

This month, we discuss the Trier witch trials, one of the four largest witch trials in Germany–specifically, the appeals against the hysteria by priest Cornelius Loos. We also explore the medieval convent of Helfta, which in the 13th century was simultaneously home to some very important female scholars and mystics, including Saints Mechtild of Hackeborn and Gertrude the Great, besties for the res...

This month, we’re back in France and Belgium to discuss St. Hubert of Liege and the Beast of Gévaudan! Enjoying the podcast? Please take a moment to rate/review/subscribe! We'd love to hear from you. Here's how to get in touch with us: Email: saintsandwitchespodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @saintsandwitchespodcast

Korea! Hurrah! We’re excited to be here for the first time. First, we explore the early days of the Joseon Dynasty, including that one tumblr meme with the guy falling off his horse and the witchcraft of Deposed Crown Princess Kim (Gim), wife of Munjong of Joseon. Then we take a quick 500ish-year leap forward to catch the end of the Joseon Dynasty and talk about the patron saint of Korea, Andrew K...

Episode 71 is a rollercoaster from start to finish. [First of all, WE KNOW that Liz’s audio is not great. We see you, we hear you, we agree with you about that. Thank you for your patience, etc. etc.] First, we take another trip to the Netherlands, where we meet St. Lidwina of Schiedam, a medieval virgin mystic with a story full of body horror, demonic encounters, and…ice skating. Then, we cross t...

We recorded this on America's birthday, but we're discussing a topic neither of us know literally anything about: the Mongol Empire. Liz gives us an overview of the history and culture of the Empire, including Genghis/Chinggis Khan's rise to power and the witchcraft accusations against Fatima Khatun, a favorite of Empress Töregene (spoiler alert: we make it gay, as always). Then, Sarah does a book...

Episode 69 calls for a good time, so we decided to explore two chapters of the epic Medici saga. First, we follow Giovanni and Giulio de’ Medici as they infiltrate the church to eventually become Pope Leo X and Pope Clement VII (just two guys swingin' their dicks around!). Then, we explore the insane life and controversy of their descendant, the “Black Queen” Catherine de’ Medici. From the Ren...

This month, we dive into two stories of colonization and betrayal in America that are generally Not a Good Look™. First, we discuss the witchcraft beliefs and practices of the Zuni tribe of New Mexico, including the controversial ethnographic studies of Frank Hamilton Cushing. Then, we follow the life of St. Junípero Serra from Mallorca to the Spanish California missions all the way to controversy...

Hello, casual heretics! Today we discuss two heavy-hitters: philosopher-theologian and Doctor of the Church St. Thomas Aquinas; and physician-theologian and occultist Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa. Along the way, we also bare our souls a bit and learn how to cast a spell with Sleepytime™ tea. Everyone’s invited! Enjoying the podcast? Please take a moment to rate/review/subscribe! We'd love to hea...

Our first visit to Austria and we’re already threatening arson! Today we discuss the gruesome and bizarre 17th century Salzburg witch trials, also known as the Magician Jackls process. Then, we hear about the Enlightenment-era Apostle of Vienna, St. Clement Mary Hofbauer. Enjoying the podcast? Please take a moment to rate/review/subscribe! We'd love to hear from you. Here's how to get in touch wit...

Happy February! Love is in the air, so today we learn about St. Valentine and how coincidence, Geoffrey Chaucer, and some birds shaped the medieval and modern traditions of Valentine’s Day. Then, we remain in England to discuss the Witches of Belvoir, a mother and her two daughters accused of performing witchcraft on their employers’ children. Also, we learn that King James was actually a 90’s Dis...

Today we make our first trip to Iceland! We take a look at a story from the Eyrbyggja saga that features witchcraft, good old-fashioned jealousy, and some crazy Boy Mom energy. Then, we discuss the patron saint of Iceland, Thorlak Thorhallsson, and the holiday he inspired. It's a good time and you should probably listen, like, now. Enjoying the podcast? Please take a moment to rate/review/subscrib...

Welcome back to Italy for another episode of Saints & Witches! Today we finally tackle the legendary St. Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscan Order and one of the patron saints of Italy. Then, we discuss the findings of the 16th- and 17th-century Roman Inquisition, including the astral-projecting benandanti and the Fisherwife of Palermo. Enjoying the podcast? Please take a moment to ra...

Happy November! Today we return to Sweden and the Katarina witch trials, part of the 17th-century Great Noise (for more on these trials, check out Episode 28). Then, we discuss St. Ansgar (Anskar? Anschar? Oscar Mayer Weiner?), the first missionary to Sweden. Enjoying the podcast? Please take a moment to rate/review/subscribe! We'd love to hear from you. Here's how to get in touch with us: Email:...

Welcome to Part II of the Saga of the Nerds Who Fuck and Kill Each Other: AKA, the Frankish Merovingian Dynasty. If you loved Episode 21 (XOXO, Caesar), you're in the right place! If you haven't listened, never fear: we'll give a quick recap and jump right into two stories of seduction, murder, and betrayal in 6th century Gaul. First, we focus on St. Radegund, daughter-in-law of St. Clotilde and o...

Ireland, you are always a joy! Today we have two 19th-century Irish tales of mayhem and misconduct. First, the stories of Moll Anthony and Bridget “Biddy” Early, two Irish cunning women who (surprise, surprise) perplexed and enraged the Church. Then, we take a hard left turn into Downerville with a discussion of the Great Famine and how it changed Catholicism in Ireland forever. Enjoying the podca...

Scotland, we’ve been asking for years now if you’re okay, and we still haven’t received confirmation. Today’s episode is, in fact, further proof that you’re NOT okay. Today, we discuss St. Margaret of Scotland / Wessex, the Norman-Conquest-era queen who married a Scottish warlord and *attempted* to teach him how to read. Then, we finally hop forward in time for the North Berwick Trials II: Electri...

Today we revisit Germany/Holy Roman Empire in the midst of the Thirty Years’ War. First, we learn about the Würzburg witch trials, one of Europe’s largest mass executions, and the Jesuit Friedrich Spee who spoke out against it. Then, we discuss the life of Athanasius Kircher, the Jesuit priest and inventor who wrote about everything, but got it all wrong. Enjoying the podcast? Please take a moment...

Sarah went on a pilgrimage and now she’s making it everyone’s problem! Today, in celebration of the U.S. relics tour of St. Bernadette, we discuss the saint and the famous Marian apparitions at Lourdes. Then, we explore the crazy life and lasting legacy of author, occultist, and almost-priest Eliphas Levi. **As we announce at the end of this episode, Saints & Witches is moving to a monthly sch...

Today we’re back in 17th-century England discussing two pairs of con men and all-around douchebags. First, we discuss Matthew Hopkins and John Stearne, witch-hunters during the English Civil War who amassed hundreds of victims. Then, we explore the fabricated Popish Plot of 1678-1681. Enjoying the podcast? Please take a moment to rate/review/subscribe! We'd love to hear from you. Here's how to get...

We’re back with a vengeance this week, talking all things medieval French insanity! We begin with Marguerite Porete, the French-Belgian beguine whose book rocked the entire Holy Roman Empire. Then, we discuss the 1609 Labourd witch-hunt and its judge, Pierre de Lancre, who, among other contemporary witch-hunters and theologians, had an unfortunate but familiar obsession with the devil’s penis. Enj...

We are a podcast created by, researched by, hosted by, and produced by women. The vast majority of our listeners are women and nonbinary people. This week, we are standing in solidarity with the women (both cis and trans) of America (www.mothersdaystrike.com), and we do not have an episode for you. Instead, we have a short message that we hope you'll be open to hearing, regardless of your beliefs....

Hold on to your leopards, folks: we’re back with another episode! This week, we travel to India to explore the work of Dr. Ian Stevenson, a psychiatrist who investigated cases of reincarnation in India in the 20th century. Then, we finally dive into the life, legacy, and controversy of St. (Mother) Teresa of Calcutta. Caviar? In this economy?? Enjoying the podcast? Please take a moment to rate/rev...

Climb down from the penis tree, you goofballs: it's time for another episode of Saints & Witches! Today, we're talking about the country our newest listeners are from: Uganda! First, we look at the history of the region's colonization: specifically, the introduction of Catholicism in the late 19th century by the Missionaries of Africa (also known as the White Fathers). Then, we discuss several...

Live from the desert: it’s another episode of Saints & Witches ! This week, we finally take a closer look at our hated/beloved home state of Illinois. First, we analyze Michael Kleen’s Witchcraft in Illinois: A Cultural History , a deep dive into the history of witchcraft (accusations, trials, and remedies) in Illinois. Then, we discuss the first recorded history of Illinois, the 17th century...